Once changed, Grace headed downstairs to inspect the rest of the house that was to be her home for the next six months.
The house was wider than their London home, but shorter. For instance, it only had two floors above the ground level, but it was equipped with a dining room, sitting room, study, library, and a parlor where one could receive guests. The study, of course, had been transformed into a bedroom and it was there where Grace found her Aunt Belle.
“Oh no, none of this will do.” The seventy-six-year-old woman stood, shoulders pulled back beside a small hump that sat at the back of her neck. “Andrews? Help Chauncy move the bed away from the window. Ah,” she paused as she noticed Grace. “My dear. How did you find your room?”
“Ah, very well, thank you,” Grace said, unsure if she should mention that she had switched bedchambers. “Aunt Belle, since we’re a few days early, I was wondering if we might take a walking tour around our part of this city?”
“A walking tour?” Belle repeated, glancing down at her cane. “I’m not sure I’d be much use on a walking tour.”
“Actually, the exercise will do you good.”
“Oh no. Don’t you try and bully me like Barkley and Hall. I don’t care if you are my grandniece; I won’t be taking orders from you.” Grace waited patiently. “Besides, we’re having company this evening.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Hall, of course.”
Grace blinked.
“Dr. Hall? Is coming tonight? But I thought we wouldn’t see him for at least a few days.”
Aunt Belle frowned.
“That doesn’t sound like the excited reaction I was expecting from someone who has begged nearly every doctor and school in the country to let them study beneath.”
Grace was momentarily frozen before her head shook and she offered a false smile.
“Of course. It will be good to see Dr. Hall. We could perhaps speak of my training before starting.”
Aunt Belle grinned.
“That’s what I thought you might—wait, Andrews, no, I don’t want that table over there.” Belle rolled her eyes. “Come, let me do it.”
“Aunt Belle, Andrews can handle it.”
The manservant picked up a small maplewood end table and waited for Belle’s instructions. There was never a more devoted person to Belle than Andrews. Their constant companionship likely added to the amusing back and forth that everyone was often privy to witness. Belle was demanding and pushy, although she refused to go anywhere without Andrews, trusting him above everyone, and Andrews was nearly always silent and appeasing, although he did on rare occasion advise Belle when he was staunchly opposed to something. Like the time in Italy, when Belle was supposed to have surgery. She had been petrified at the prospect of being cut open and tried to leave their villa to return home. Andrews had insisted upon bringing her to the doctor’s theater himself and guarded the door until said surgery was over. It had saved her life, but Belle had been stubborn in her forgiveness of Andrews for that, although he didn’t seem to mind.
It didn’t happen often, but Belle would always reconsider if Andrews had something to say. Again, though, that was rare indeed.
Grace peeled out of the room, uninterested in all the reasons why an end table should be wherever Aunt Belle wanted it, and instead went to find the library, in hopes of finding the books that she had sent ahead of time.
Of course, they had arrived two days earlier than when they were supposed to, but before she could reach the library, a knock at the front door caught her attention. Pausing, she lifted her hand to the doorway and waited to see who had come to call.
“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Stevens said as she opened the door wide for the guest to enter. “She’ll be right along. Won’t you come into the parlor?”
The tall, familiar form of Dr. Hall entered into the foyer, his cool gaze finding Grace’s face instantly. He stalled as he spottedher and Grace had to remind herself to breathe, and in doing so she smelled the familiar citrus scent. Why did he always smell of limes? And why she should suddenly feel under his inspection, she did not quite understand, but then she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders before marching up to him.
The gentle wonder in his eyes turned contemptuous as she reached him.
“Dr. Hall,” she said with a slight curtsy. “I did not expect you until the day after tomorrow.”
“Aye, that’s when I expected you, but Lady Belle has requested me.”
“So I’ve just learned.”
“She doesn’t fare very well doing long trips?”
“I wouldn’t say that. Aunt Belle did splendid on our return from Italy last spring. She has stated that she feels far better since her surgery and traveling does not make her as weary as before.”
